Parachute decelerator



Jan 14, 1947. H, a BACON 2,414,284

PARACHUTE DEGELERATOR V Fil ed Dec. 30, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet. 1

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Jan. 14, 1947. H. s. BACON 2,414,234

I PARACHUTE DECELERATOR H I Filed Dec so, 1943 2 sheets-"sheet 2 Edfiflaeam -1NV51vroR.,.

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Patented Jan. 14, 194'.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

This invention relates to "a deceleration device for use in connection with parachutes, one of the objects beingto provide controlled means where- 'by, as the parachute reaches a point near the landing surface, the parachute canopy and the load will be abruptly shifted toward each'other, thereby increasing the air resistance to the descent of the canopy and at the same time imparting a lift to the load so that the landing can be made at a slower speed than otherwise would be possible.

A further object is to provide a device of this character which can be combined readily with parachutes already in use and which can be used effectively not only for landing paratroops and others, but also for landing equipment and supplies.

A still further object is'to utilize the expansion of gases resulting from the explosion of a con- "fined charge for effecting the desired result.

With the foregoing and other objects in View which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention'has been shown.

In said drawings: I

Figure 1 is an elevation of a canopy'descending with a load of equipment supported by the harness.

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal section through the decelerating device showing portions of the canopy shrouds and harnessco'm nected thereto.

Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3, Fig. 2,

Figure 4-. is a section through the middl'e'portion of the decelerating device and showing one form of firing mechanism which can be used, said section being taken substantially on the line 4-4, Fig. 3, the outer shells being removed.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference, A designates the usual parachute canopy having depending shrouds or cords B. These shrouds or cords are arranged preferably though not necessarily in four groups, and extending from the lower end of each group is a strap I. Obviously where the cords or shrouds are divided into four groups, four of these straps are used.

The load to be carried by the parachute has been indicated at C and can be in the form of a parachute harness. Inanycase 'st'r'a'ps 2 "areextended upwardlytherefroin, these straps, 'in the present instance being four in number although obviously 'this nuinber can be varied. Each strap, however, is provided with an intermediate portion 3 formed of elastic so that a certain amount of stretch is permitted.

The decelerating device "constituting the present invention includes an inner tubular shell 4 open at its upper and lower ends and provided between its ends with partitions 5 so that this inner shell thus is divided into a central firing chamber 6 and end explosive chambers! and 8. Telescopically mounted onthe upper portion of the shellfl is an inverted outer shell- 9 closed at its upper end and serving to close the explosion chamber l. Another outer shell I 0 closed at its 'end so as thus to close'the lower explosion chamber '8.

Percussion caps H are mounted 'in the partitioned and are located where they can be hit simultaneously by hammers 12 forming portions of the firing'mechanism. This mechanism can be of any suitable construction and that Whlchhas been illustrate'din'thedrawings is only one of many forms which might be used. In this 'illustrated form, he hammers I 2 are subjected constantly to the pulling action of springs l3but they are held 'ag'ainstmovement normally under the influence of these springs by a lever I 4 having oppositelyextended fingers 15 which extend betweenthehammers and the percussion caps so as thus to maintain said hammers normally spaced from'the capswith the springs l3 under tension. This lever is held normally in holding position by a spring '56 which is coiled about a sha'ft l'l towhich the lever is secured. This shaft is extended outwardly through the wall of the firing chamber "8 andthe spring "it, which is secured at one end to the shaft, has its otherend held to the wallet the firing chamber 5 in any suitablemanner, as byineans of a pin !8.

Afinge'r I9 is extended radially from the shaft and within the firing chamber '5 and is normally pressed against a stop lug "20 because of the action of spring Hi. This finger can be held against movement away from the stop 20 by a locking pin 2| overlying the finger l9 as shown particularly in Figs. 3 and 4.

The inner ends of the outer shells 9 and [0 having cushioning rings 22 interposed between them, these rings being formed of rubber. Shaft I1 is extended outwardly between these cushioning rings.

The upper shell 1 has a heavy ring 23 concentric therewith but connected to the shell by integral webs 24. In the spaces between these webs are located the looped upper ends 25 of the strap 2. A similar ring 26 is extended around the upper end of the shell I and is connected thereto by webs 21. The spaces between these webs receive the looped lower ends 28 of the straps l.

Normally the parts of the decelerating device are located as shown in Fig. 2, it being understood, of course, that the chambers I and 8 are filled with an explosive material such as powder, indicated at 29. An arm 30 is extended radially from the outer portion of shaft l1 and has a cord 3| secured thereto, this cord being provided with a Weight 32 suflicient to overcome the action of spring I5 when shaft I1 is unlocked. Normally, however, this shaft is held against movement by the locking pin 2| as before explained.

When it is desired to effect a landing, the load to be deposited on the ground is connected in the usual or any preferred manner to the straps 2 while the parachute canopy and its shrouds are packed in the usual way. If equipment is to be landed the weight 32 is paid out so that the load thereon will be transmitted to arm 30 and shaft l1. Pin 2| is withdrawn but, because of the weight, the trigger lever 14 will not move out of holding position. The parachute is released with its load and when it approaches the landing surface, the weight 32 will first contact with said surface. Thus shaft I! will be relieved of the restraining influence of this weight and spring l6 will operate to shift the trigger 14 away from restraining position. Instantly the two hammers 12 will be released and they will strike the percussion caps I I, thereby exploding the charges 29. These explosions will result in shell in being driven downwardly and shell 9 being driven upwardly relative to the inner tube. The descent of tube ill will impart an abrupt pull through the straps l upon the parachute canopy, thereby increasing the air resistance and retarding the descent of the canopy. The upward movement of the shell 9 will result in an upward pull through the straps 2 upon the load, this pull being cushioned by the elastic portion l3. These two actions, the abrupt downward pull on the parachute canopy and the abrupt upward pull upon the load, will effect an easy contact of the load with the landing surface.

- It is to be understood, of course, that any suittable means can be employed for withdrawing the locking pin so that the parachutist, while descending in a harness, not shown, could withdraw the pin 2| from holding position. For example, and as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, a handline 33 can be extended outwardly from the looking pin through an eye 34 carried by a ring 35 on shaft i1 and extending to a point within convenient reach by the parachutist. Of course means other than that described and shown could be used for this purpose.

The decelerating device and the amount of explosive used can be varied according to the weight of the load to he landed.

The length of cord 3| of course determines the distance from the landing surface at which the explosion of the charges is to be effected.

-What is claimed is:

1. The combination with the canopy and loadengaging elementof a parachute, of deceleration means interposed therebetween, said means including upwardly and downwardly relatively movable members connected to said element and canopy respectively, and means under the control of an operator for shifting said members from each other and shortening the distance between said element and the canopy.

2. The combination with the canopy and loadengaging element of a parachute, of deceleration means interposed therebetween, said means including upper and lower members connected to said element and canopy respectively, explosivecontaining means associated with said members; and means under the control of the operator for igniting an explosive to propel the members in opposite directions respectively, thereby to shorten the distance abruptly between the canopy and element.

3. In a parachute the combination with a canopy and a load-engaging element, of a connection between said canopy and element including a structure having upper and lower chambers, an explosive material in each chamber, upper and lower members slidably mounted on the structure and connected to said element and canopy respectively, and means under the control of an operator for firing the explosive and abruptly shifting said members away from each other, thereby to abruptly decrease the distance between the canopy and element.

4. The combination with the canopy and loadengaging element of a parachute, of a connection between the canopy and element including upper and lower relatively movable members connected to the element and canopy respectively, an explosive charge interposed between the members, and means controlled by contact with a landing surface for exploding the charge, shifting the members away from each other, and abruptly decreasing the distance between the canopy and element. 7

5. The combination with the canopy and loadengaging element of a parachute, of a connection between the canopy and element including upper and lower relatively movable members connected to the element and canopy respectively, an explosive charge interposed between the members, and means controlled by contact with a landing surface for exploding the charge, shifting the members away from each other, and abruptly decreasing the distance between the canopy and element, said means including a weight, a trigger,

hammers normally restrained by the trigger, a

trigger-operating device movably mounted, and a flexible connection between the weight and said device for maintaining the trigger normally inactive.

HENRY STUART BACON. 

